By Susan Cornelius Edson, Syracuse University
NEW YORK - On the eve of the 2011 Heisman Trophy presentation, a group of distinguished sports figures gathered at the New York Historical Society Museum in Manhattan. They were not there to recognize Trent Richardson of Alabama, Baylor’s Robert Griffin III or any of this year’s Heisman finalists. Instead, they helped pay tribute to the man who paved the way for Richardson, Griffin and many of today’s African-American college football stars – Syracuse University halfback Ernie Davis ‘62.
See it was 50 years ago, in 1961, that Davis became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy as the nation’s most outstanding player.
To commemorate that watershed moment, Syracuse University organized a panel discussion entitled “Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams: The Landmark Achievement of Ernie Davis” for more than 200 invited guests. The panelists included Basketball Hall of Famer and current Detroit mayor Dave Bing ’66, Hall of Fame sportswriter and commentator Frank Deford, USC football legend and the second African-American Heisman Trophy winner Mike Garrett, NBA Players’ Association Executive Director Billy Hunter ’65 and Pro Football Hall of Famers Floyd Little ’67 and Art Monk ’80.
Friday night’s discussion was moderated by sportscaster Len Berman ’68, while Marv Albert ’61 emceed the event. Prior to the panel discussion, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (Law ’67) delivered remarks. Other prominent attendees included: SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor, Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross, members of the Davis family and four members of the “Syracuse Eight” – Greg Allen, John Lobon, Alif Muhammad and Dana Harrell.
The panelists relayed their memories of Davis and discussed his impact on their lives, but the over-arching theme of the evening was breaking barriers and Biden’s opening speech set the tone.
“The march of progress is marked by certain moments that stand out as turning points in our history,” Biden said. “November 8, 1960 when John Kennedy was elected president was one of those turning points. As a young Irish-Catholic kid going to an all-boys Catholic high school we didn’t just celebrate that moment, we inhaled it. It changed us. About year a later when the Heisman Trophy Trust named Ernie Davis the winner of the Heisman Trophy we understood that was a turning point, as well.”
At Syracuse, Davis followed in the footsteps of the legendary Jim Brown. Many believed that Brown should have been the first black to win the Heisman for his phenomenal 1956 season, but in a time of racial segregation that was something Bing didn’t think mainstream America would embrace.
“The country wasn’t ready for it,” Bing said. “Jim Brown was a different personality than Ernie. Jim was tenacious. He was aggressive. He was very independent and I don’t think the image that he projected at that point in time our society was ready to accept.”
It took Davis, with his stellar play on the field and quiet, unassuming nature off it, to do what many African-Americans before him could not. Having already led Syracuse to the national championship in 1959, Davis rushed for 877 yards and 12 touchdowns in 1961 to edge out Ohio State's Bill Ferguson in what was then the closest vote in Heisman history (824 points to 771).
Davis was subsequently drafted by he Washington Redskins first overall in the 1962 NFL Draft. He was traded to the Cleveland Browns where owner Art Modell planned to use him and Brown together in a dream backfield. However, it never came to pass. Davis was stricken with leukemia and died before ever playing a down in the NFL. He was 23.
"The guy was sent here for a mission," Hunter said of Davis. "He was here for a little while and then he was taken away."
Davis’ death had a profound impact on Little, whom Davis helped recruit to Syracuse. After being wooed by General Douglas MacArthur and members of the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers to attend Army, Little went out to dinner with Davis and SU head coach Ben Schwartzwalder. Both players ordered steak and lobster. Then Davis pulled Little aside to talk about Syracuse – in the men’s room of all places. After about 30 minutes, Little was anxious to eat so in an attempt to end the conversation he threw his arms around Davis and told him he would attend Syracuse. Little wasn’t sincere.
About three months later Davis died and all Little could think of was the promise he’d made.
“I gave him my word and I don’t own anything more valuable,” Little said. “My word is all I have and I called coach on behalf of Ernie and said ‘I’m coming to Syracuse.’”
The rest is history. Little became a three-time Orange All-American, wore No. 44 like Davis did and went on to a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Denver Broncos. Little’s also made an effort every day to honor Davis, whom he called "a quiet giant."
“Because he didn’t have the opportunity to do the things that he could do and live the kind of life he could live, I’ve taken it upon myself to live life like Ernie,” said an emotional Little.
The memory of Davis and what he achieved hasn’t faded at his alma mater either. The field at the Carrier Dome is dedicated “Ernie Davis Legends Field. A few hundred yards away from the Dome, on the University Quad, stands a life-size statue of Davis, a helmet under his left arm and a football in his right hand. Just up the road at 619 Comstock Avenue is Ernie Davis Hall, a nine-story residence hall that opened in August 2009.
Friday night’s event was another example of that lasting legacy.
“I thought it was a wonderful evening,” Gross said. “It was really monumental in terms of recognizing Ernie Davis and the 50th anniversary of something so significant. It was just so touching and so warm from the vice president’s remarks all the way down to the panel discussion. I thought this was something that was very unique. Syracuse University should be very proud tonight.”
###
